THE HOUSE Defeat Covid-19 Committee-New Normal Cluster on Wednesday approved the proposed recovery assistance package worth PHP38.8 billion for higher and technical-vocational education amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The subpanel, chaired by Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, approved House Bill 6706, which seeks to provide assistance for the upgrade of digital infrastructure and connectivity for educational institutions, and cast a safety net for students and school personnel for an unhampered delivery of quality accessible tertiary education.
House Committee on Higher and Technical Education chairman Mark Go, principal author of HB 6706, said the migration from purely traditional face-to-face learning, which is imperative under the new normal restrictions, would require upgrading the existing information technology (IT) infrastructure and connectivity of education institutions.
The package proposes an allocation of PHP1.07 billion for the IT upgrade in state universities and colleges and local universities and colleges, and PHP502 million for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and its technology institutions.
"Classes in tertiary education are set to resume in August, subject of course to the prevailing circumstances then. As such, the months leading to the opening of classes must be utilized to prepare the schools and the students in the development and adoption of a flexible learning system," he said.
Go cited the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) data showing an estimated dropout of 59,000 students in the coming school year as a result of the pandemic.
"There is a looming fear that this transition towards alternative modes of learning would further widen the inequality gap among students from different socio-economic backgrounds. In order to avoid such a scenario, we need to assist our students by providing them such means that would allow them to continue their education in a flexible education system," he said.
The bill proposes an allocation of PHP17.2 billion for zero-percent loans and subsidies for students and teachers to be used for the acquisition of appropriate gadgets for flexible learning, or for payment of tuition and miscellaneous expenses.
The measure said PHP16 billion shall be appropriated to help 300,000 student-beneficiaries who are not covered under the Listahan 2.0 of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Meanwhile, PHP1.14 billion shall be appropriated for 30,000 TESD learners who are also excluded from the list.
The bill also allocates PHP2.46 billion as a financial subsidy for the personnel of public and private higher institutions, while PHP237.54 million shall be extended to private technical-vocational institutions, including job orders, contracts of service, and freelance competency assessors.
Around PHP244 million shall be allocated for training on distance or flexible learning for teaching personnel. (By Filane Mikee Cervantes)
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